PHILADELPHIA — One of the most difficult players for Eagles fans to love was defensive end Jason Babin.

You could almost hear critics of the high-priced pass rusher shout “yes!” after he was cut Tuesday.

When Babin was registering 18 sacks and making the Pro Bowl, fans put up with him. His surly attitude fit the organization that often prides itself on knowing everything.

But Babin’s production dipped significantly this season, and worse, the millionaire criticized the fan base feeding him. With a 3-8 record and a seven-game losing streak, Babin was too pricey for the bean counters, who obviously okayed dumping the rest of his salary.

Advertisement

“We appreciate everything that Jason has given this team over the last couple of years,” Eagles head coach Andy Reid said in a release. “We wish him all the best as he continues his career. By releasing him today, this gives us an opportunity to give more playing time to some of younger guys in the defensive line rotation.”

Babin led the Eagles with 5 1/2 sacks. He must clear waivers. You have to figure some team is going to pick him up although they would be on the hook for a big contract.

If claimed, Babin would be due $1.471 million pro-rated for the last five games. He inked a five-year, $27 million contract in 2011 with $5 million guaranteed. Some teams don’t have that much salary cap room.

Babin was not immediately available for comment. There was no immediate response on his certified Twitter account (@JasonBabin93). On the NFL Network’s Around The League segment, Babin said he was “definitely surprised” by his release but not completely shocked considering the way the defense was underperforming.

“Really a lot of it is due to us,” Babin said. “If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do — if you’re not covering the right guy, playing the right coverage in the right gap, getting the right call, not communicating — you’re giving the other team a big advantage to making a big play.”

One of the younger Eagles in line for more playing time is rookie second-round pick Vinny Curry, who in his first action of the season Monday night had five tackles, third on the squad, in 21 snaps of the loss to the Carolina Panthers. Curry is due $592,000 in base salary this season.

Babin had four tackles, including one sack, in 40 snaps. His base pay is $5 million.

Brandon Graham moved into Babin’s starting spot at left end on the depth chart. Phillip Hunt backs up Graham. Trent Cole is the other starting end with Darryl Tapp and Curry following him on the depth chart.

With production an issue, veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins might have a tough time collecting his $1.5 million roster bonus next March, much less his $5.5 million base salary.

Jenkins is guaranteed $1.5 million of that base. He wasn’t credited with a tackle despite playing 39 snaps against the Panthers.

Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who registered three tackles and no pass breakups in 66 snaps, is going to have a rough time justifying his contract. The $11 million base salary in Asomugha’s five-year, $60 million deal is guaranteed this year, which would create a ton of dead money if the Eagles cut him this year. The Eagles also guaranteed $4 million of his $15.3 million base salary in 2013. Asomugha has just one interception this season and four, total in two seasons with the Eagles.

After the Eagles’ 30-17 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Babin expressed disappointment with “a section of fans chanting some of the most vile things” he’d ever heard.

Babin particularly objected to what he felt were very personal taunts directed at the coaching staff and in the vicinity of women and children.

“I just thought there’s no place for that in the NFL,” Babin said. “None, whatsoever. I mean, just some of the foul things they were saying. Yeah, I’m going to be protective of Coach Reid, Coach Wash (Jim Washburn) and my teammates. It was upsetting that a few bad apples were chanting that kind of stuff. But what are you going to do?”

The Kansas City Chiefs, by virtue of having the worst record in the league, have the first claiming priority. Next is Jacksonville, followed by the Eagles, Oakland, Cleveland, Carolina, San Diego, Buffalo, Tennessee and Detroit.